The World of James Herriot attraction has launched a Russian language version of the World of James Herriot website and appointed an international marketing and promotion coordinator to promote the attraction in the Russian speaking market.
Alfiya Stephenson, a native Russian speaker from Central Asia who now lives in North Yorkshire, has been appointed to raise the profile of the World of James Herriot and Herriot Country in Russian speaking markets.
The move aims to build on the growth of Russian visitors and is a follow up to a James Herriot Exhibition held at the State Darwin Museum in Moscow.
Based at the attraction in Thirsk, Alfiya has set about the task of building relationships with tour operators, travel companies, schools and social groups across the Russian speaking world.
The new website — www.jamesherriotrussia.com — has also been launched to coincide with Alfya’s appointment in support of the initiative and to deliver the information about the attraction and Herriot Country to Russian speaking visitors.
“Our aim is to open up Herriot Country and it’s many attractions to Herriot fans and others in Russian speaking countries following our successful mission to Moscow,” said managing director Ian Ashton at the launch of the Russian website.
The new Russian language website highlights the World of James Herriot and many attractions of the North Yorkshire countryside and proposes packages including visits to stately homes, clay pigeon shooting, horse riding, off road driving, visits to traditional pubs and breweries and sampling the many wonderful eateries serving fresh local produce in traditional recipes of Herriot Country.
“Would you believe there has rarely been a year since the 1970s when the Herriot TV programme hasn’t aired in the former Soviet Union” said Alfiya. She went on to explain that there are Herriot fan clubs in Russia who meet to watch and discuss re-runs of the series. “There is even a school in Russia using the Herriot books to teach English language to children” she said.
Episodes of the programs are available on YouTube with Russian voice overs and subtitles. The new initiative is targeted at Russian commercial tour operators, individuals and families.
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